Plan B 4.0 Chp. 2

http://www.goodlifeconnoisseur.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Global-Water-Use-Forecast.png

     The second chapter of Plan B discusses the pressure of the growing population on land and water. Our food and water resources are becoming increasingly scarce as the population continues its rapid growth. There are many more mouths to feed now then there were a decade ago. This obviously affects both food and water because those are two vital resources needed for survival. Many countries are over pumping aquifers as they struggle to satisfy their growing water needs (Brown 38). Water seems to be a plentiful resource, but we are depleting it with our increasingly large demand. The competition for what has become a big problem, which is crazy to think because water is everywhere. However, simply because water is everywhere does not mean that we should not limit our use of it.

http://www.voalearningenglish.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Agriculture-Report-Special-Grain-May-Reduce-Iron-Deficiency.jpg

One point that Brown brings up really surprised me. Apparently, the price of grain is now tied to the price of oil because of our country’s massive capacity to convert grain to ethanol (Brown 49). This further brings the resource of food into perspective. Now grain is in a competition to go to either car fuel or people’s food. Obviously, gas companies can pay more to obtain grain since they make much more than the average person. So now grain is being taken from people to be used in ethanol. Also, we all know how gas prices fluctuate. Now every time gas prices rise so do the prices of grain, which makes food more expensive as well.

http://www.beezodogsplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/bike-vs-car1.jpg

     Because of the way grain is tied to oil, cars are now in competition with people for grain. Brown brings up how automobile owners on average make 27,000 more a year than poorest families (Brown 50). Automobile owners pay for gas so they are making their vote against the people that need grain for food. In this way, the market decides to fuel cars (Brown 50). I understand this because our society is ruled by profit; however, I disagree with the logic of it. Grain is a very important food group and simply because gas uses it does not mean that less should go to people as a food source. This country is scarce on food as it is and we do not need another reason for it.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1895362/images/o-BRAIN-SWITCH-facebook.jpg

http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/files/2014/11/amos_climatechange2-940x626.jpg

            Brown ends the chapter saying that our choice is simple; we either need to reverse these trends or risk being overwhelmed by them (Brown 54). I do not believe it is that simple at all. Brown acts like we can just turn a switch and stop the way we are living. There is no possible way we can do that. There are too many people on earth that would need to cooperate together and even then it would be difficult. Also, we would have to change everyone’s mindsets. With all the advances we have made, we cannot just go back. We can slowly change and be more conservative but to continue operating society we need to utilize a certain amount of resources.